What might seem like liquid when you're done cooking can solidify when poured down the drain. These fats, oils, and grease (FOG) build up on the walls of sewer pipes and blocks the plumbing, which can lead to sewer backups in homes, onto streets and into local waterways. Clogged sewer lines can lead to expensive plumbing maintenance for you and the city. Pouring hot water or soap down the drain will not help-it can only break up the grease temporarily.

Soak up small amounts of cool, hardened FOG with paper towels and place in the organics bin. Save larger amounts of liquid FOG and recycle it at the free Household Hazardous Waste drop off at the Yolo County Central Landfill from 7:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. every Friday and Saturday.

Skunks are normally very calm and gentle creatures. They are generally not aggressive if you give them space. They can help control pests like slugs, snails, and cockroaches in the yard. Skunks are mostly active at night and are naturally fearful of humans, so they will avoid interacting with us. However, skunks can release a powerful and unpleasant-smelling scent when they are threatened or startled. If you know there is a skunk visiting your yard, make sure it knows you or your pets are present by turning on lights and making noise before entering dark corners of the yard. Skunks are known to carry the rabies virus, so never touch a skunk.   
 
Skunks will frequently visit yards that have food, water, or cover available to them. To encourage them to leave, remove their access to food and water (pet water/food bowls, ponds, fallen fruit, compost piles, etc.), and cover (ex. old wood piles, gaps under decks and sheds, etc.). Skunks prefer to tunnel under barriers rather than climb. Repair or fill holes under fences with wire mesh to keep them out. Store bought scent deterrents can be effective, but are often short lived. Try a motion-activated sprinkler along fence lines. 

No, trapping and relocating wildlife is a violation of State law, as the animal may spread disease and become a nuisance elsewhere. Most raccoons on properties are searching for food. To discourage raccoons on your property:

• Do not feed them.
• Raccoon-proof your garbage cans by fastening the lids securely with rope, bungee cords, chains, or a heavy object.
• Remove places for them to shelter in by closing off openings under the house, decks and sheds. Cover or otherwise enclose woodpiles.
• Use key activated pet doors to prevent raccoons from entering.
• Sprinkle lawns or planters with cayenne pepper to discourage grub hunting. Control grub populations so that raccoons or skunks will not be drawn to your lawn in the first place. Organic grub control products work very well.

More information on living with urban wildlife

Sick or injured wildlife should be approached with caution. Animals that are sick or injured are particularly defensive and likely to bite if handled. Bites from wildlife are painful and may transmit harmful diseases. Depending on the species of animal, the following contacts should be able to lend assistance:

• Skunks and foxes - Yolo County Animal Services
• Bats -NorCal Bat Rescue
• Hawks, owls, or other birds-of-prey - California Raptor Center
• Everything else - Wildlife Care Association

Is it abandoned? Often times an "orphaned" animal is safe but perhaps a bit out of place.

Was the animal brought to you by a pet? Is it naked and shaking? If yes, it likely needs help.   

When birds are nesting, we may see more young birds out of the nest as they learn to fly and feed on their own. Often times, we see these young birds on the ground or in a low bush. Does the bird need help? Not necessarily! Most young birds are perfectly fine and do not need our help. Here is some useful information on what to do when you find a young bird.

Featherless/Newly Hatched (Hatchling) Birds (Picture A): If the bird is not injured, locate the nest, and place the young bird back inside. Birds are unable to detect your scent on their young. After you leave, they will quickly forget your intrusion. Be sure to place the bird in the correct nest (as parents may toss out unfamiliar babies).

Downy/Incompletely Feathered (Nestling) Birds (Picture B): These are older birds, not quite ready to fly. Find the nest, and place the young back in it unless the bird is injured.

Fully Feathered (Fledgling) Birds (Picture C): These birds are completely feathered, can hop about, and may be able to flutter or fly short distances. Leave them alone unless they are being attacked by a dog or cat. They should be left on the ground (to be fed and protected by their parents) unless they are injured or in imminent danger.

No, you should not feed wildlife. It may not seem like a big deal, but feeding wildlife can make them sick, alter normal (and appropriate) behavior patterns, and potentially worst of all, can make wild animals less fearful of humans, which is dangerous for all of us. 

You may not be aware, but feeding wild animals actually harms them. “People” food isn’t good for animals, and generally “pet” food does not provide the right balance of nutrients for most wild animals. They need their natural diet in order to remain healthy. The animals you feed today are also likely become “pests” tomorrow, when they lose their natural fear of humans and approach other people to look for food. Once animals learn that humans are a source of food, they can become a nuisance, or even worse, a safety risk. 

It’s also important to keep in mind that many wild animals found in urban areas tend to have a population growth that is largely tied to their access to food, water and shelter. When they have an abundance of these elements, their population can expand rapidly. Unfortunately, the reverse is true as well. If the food is removed (when people stop feeding the animals, move away, or when the feeder runs out) the animals will begin to starve and the population crashes. This cycle can be avoided if we allow these wild animals to rely solely on what nature provides.

It can be hard to resist feeding wildlife, but please don’t do it, first and foremost for the animal’s health and safety.

More information on the problems with feeding urban wildlife.

Yes, you really do need to pick up your dog’s poop. Not only is it un-neighborly to leave your pet waste on the ground when taking your dog for a walk, but doggie-doo-doo (and cat waste as well!) left on the ground creates conditions that are harmful to the environment. 

Here are the top 5 reasons why you should always pick up after your pet:

1. During rainfall, pet waste left on the ground can break apart and wash into gutters, down a stormdrain and out to local wetlands and waterways. Pet waste contains coliform bacteria that can be harmful to wetland wildlife. Nutrients like nitrogen and phosphorus in pet waste can cause algae to grow which reduces the oxygen available in the water for fish.
2. Pet waste may contain harmful organisms such as Giardia, Salmonella and E. coli that can be transmitted to humans and other animals by ingesting contaminated water.
3. Pets infected by roundworms and hookworms have live parasites in their waste. These parasites can live in the soil for long periods of time and be transmitted to other animals and humans.
4. It's the law! Many HOAs, urban and suburban areas require you to pick up after your pet. But even if there is no restriction, cleaning up after your pet is always the right thing to do.
5. No one likes to step in pet waste and inadvertently carry it into their home, car or businesses. Your community will appreciate the good manners of poop picker-uppers.

Scooping while on a walk or on a daily basis in your own yard only takes a few minutes, but has a large paw-sitive impact.

Be sure to carry plastic baggies with you whenever you take your dog out, and always place your pet waste in the trash--it's not compostable, so please keep it out of the organics cart or yard material piles.

With its shorter days and cooler weather, fall is the best time of the year to plant. In the fall, the soil is moist, weeds are not as prolific, and cooler temperatures put less stress on new plants. As you plan your landscape for the year, consider going beyond water-wise landscaping and work to create a sustainable landscape that is environmentally friendly, requires less maintenance, generates less yard waste, reduces water run-off, improves wildlife habitat and fosters healthy soils. 

Adding a layer of four inches of mulch around your plants helps to retain moisture, protect against the summer heat and suppress weeds. Mulch also protects the soil form erosion, maintains a more even soil temperature, and provides a “finished” look to your landscape.

Mulches made from organic materials are best, such as bark, wood chips or straw, since they decompose and add organic material to the soil. During leaf-drop season, you can also consider “leafing” your plant trimmings onsite as an alternative to mulch. Don’t use plastic underneath the mulch as it holds too much moisture and inhibits oxygen exchange, leading to root and trunk rot for trees and plants.

Mulch is great in your yard, but make sure it stays there. When planning your landscape, include how you plan to keep soil and mulch onsite. Create impermeable borders around your landscape so soil and mulch are not washed away by rain or spread by wind. During leaf-drop season, you can also consider “leafing” your plant trimmings onsite as an alternative to mulch.

The best way to manage pests is by using Integrated Pest Management, a broad-based approach to managing pests that combines biological, cultural, physical, and chemical tools to minimize health, environmental, and financial risks. Part of that includes choosing less-toxic methods to control pests. Our Water Our World is a great resource with fact sheets on finding non-toxic and less-toxic solutions for managing pests in and around the home. Check out their fact sheets for managing ants, aphids, snails and slugs, weeds, rats and mice, and more!

Davis tap water meets and exceeds all state and federal drinking water standards. The City samples and tests our water on a weekly, monthly and quarterly basis in order to ensure that it is safe to drink. Some people (specifically immuno-compromised individuals) may be more vulnerable to constituents in drinking water than the general population, so please consult with your doctor if you have any concerns.

The use of a water filter is a personal decision, but not necessary. Some residents decide to use water filters to help reduce the taste and smell of chlorine added to the drinking water for disinfection or to remove trace minerals.

The City of Davis supplies water from two sources: groundwater from City deep aquifer wells and surface water from the Sacramento River. Surface water is naturally softer than local groundwater. In 2015, when the City supplied only groundwater, the average level of water hardness (weighted average) was 306 parts per million (ppm) or 17.9 grains per gallon (gpg). In 2023, the City supplied 90% surface water and 10% groundwater, and the weighted average for hardness in 2023 was reduced to 75 ppm or 4.4 gpg.

If you are still using a water softener at your home, consider bypassing it to determine if the current level of water hardness is acceptable for your home, or adjust the grains setting on the water softener accordingly. Reducing or eliminating the use of water softeners can also save water and energy costs, as well as protect water quality. Some water softeners release large quantities of salts into the City’s wastewater system. The salts remain in the treated water, even after being processed at the City’s wastewater treatment plant, and contribute to problems with salt loading in local wetlands, rivers and the Delta.

If you notice an unpleasant taste and/or odor to the water in your home, here are some suggestions to assist you in locating the source of the odor: 

• If you think the smell is coming from the water, take a container, turn on the tap water, and fill up the container. Then, step away from the sink and smell the water. If there is a noticeable smell, then the source of the smell is the water. If you do not notice a smell, then it is more likely that the smell is coming from the plumbing fixtures. If the smell seems to be coming from the plumbing fixtures, consider flushing the pipes with a mixture of bleach and water. Additionally, remove the aerator, clean with a mixture of bleach and water, and remove any build-up that may be present. 
• If the source of the odor is coming from the water, run the hot and cold taps independently and test the water again by smelling it away from the sink. If the smell is from the hot water tap, it is most likely that the smell is coming from the hot water heater. If the smell is from both hot and cold taps, but only from water treated by a softener, then you may have bacteria growing in the water softener. 
• If the smell is persistent after running the water and/or you notice the smell in all areas around your home, then the source of the smell is most likely the source water (i.e. the water entering your home). Additionally, if you notice the smell from the water at the front outside hose bib of your home, then the source of the smell is most likely from the source water. If that is the case, contact the Public Works Utilities and Operations Department at 530-757-5686 during regular business hours or contact the non-emergency Police Department number after hours at 530- 747-5400.

To help us investigate taste and smell issues in your tap water, please be prepared to give us the following information:

• What locations in your home have you noticed the taste and/or odor occurring? 
• When did you first notice it? 
• Is the taste and/or odor in the hot water or cold water or both? 
• How would you describe the taste and/or odor of the water?

The City of Davis has mandatory water use restrictions that are permanently in place. These restrictions include:

• No watering outdoors between 9 am and 6 pm, except with a hand-held container or hose with a shut-off nozzle.
• No watering during periods of rain or for 48 hours after measurable rainfall.
• No excessive water flow or runoff onto pavement, gutters or ditches from watering or irrigating landscapes or vegetation.

View the full list of water use restrictions

Check for water leaks on your property by:

• Using the customer water use portal: Sign up for AquaHawk, the City's online customer water use portal to view your hourly water consumption, manage your water usage and set and customize alert setting. For tips on using AquaHawk to assist in finding leaks, download the Using AquaHawk to Assist in Finding Leaks PDF.
• Checking the water meter box: Check your meter box for pooling water. Standing water inside the box often indicates there is a leak.
• Looking for leaks in irrigation systems: Standing water or areas of consistently moist soil can indicate an irrigation or service line leak. Check the sprinkler head at the lowest elevation of the yard, pooling water can indicate an irrigation valve leak.
• Listening for noise in indoor pipes: If you hear water running in your home, but don’t have a tap turned on, you may have a leaky pipe. Hot water is the most common indoor leak, check your natural gas bill to see if there are spikes in usage.
• Checking toilets: Put two-three drops of food coloring in your toilet tank. If after 15 minutes the coloring has dripped into the bowl without flushing, you have a toilet flapper valve leak.
• Looking for drips at faucets and showerheads: Check kitchens, laundry rooms and bathrooms for dripping fixtures. If you have consistent drips or streams, you need to tighten your taps. If that does not work, you may have a leak.
• Comparing water usage on utility bills: If the water usage on your utility bill is higher than average, you may have a leak in your home or on your property.
• Requesting a water consumption check: The Public Works Utilities and Operations (PWUO) Department provides water consumption checks free of charge. To request a check for your property, email PWWeb@cityofdavis.org or call 757-5686. PWUO staff will check for continuous use at the meter and contact you with their findings. PWUO staff will only check the meter and city infrastructure; any leaks on the customer side of the meter are the customer’s responsibility.

Plants that require less water to thrive often have one of more of these characteristics:

• Grayish leaves
• Fuzzy or hair leaves
• Small or needle-like leaves
• Vertically held leaves
• Think, fleshy leaves and/or stems with a thick waxy coating (ex. succulents)
• Plants with summer dormancy (ex. bulbs)

More information on Water-Wise Landscaping 

Cartons are really tricky because there are two kinds of cartons, and depending on which kind you have they go in different bins!

Cartons that NEED to be refrigerated BEFORE they are opened (i.e. milk or ice cream cartons) are only made of thick paper with a thin layer of plastic. These can be placed in the organics bin for composting (yes, even if they have a plastic spout) as the plastics are screened out of the finished compost.

Shelf-stable cartons that do NOT need refrigeration before they are opened (i.e. cartons of broth or juice boxes) are made of several layers of plastic and aluminum over a thick paper core. These are NOT recyclable or compostable here in Davis and they need to go in the trash.

Cartons can sometimes look similar, so check the labeling on the carton to see when refrigeration is required in order to determine which kind of carton you have.

Recyclables collected in Davis are still finding markets, despite the struggling global recycling industry, thanks to environmentally responsible citizens, local collection and processing practices, and an environmentally minded recycling company in Davis.

The export of recyclable materials is a key component of California's recycling infrastructure. California exports about a third of the recyclable material it collects. Historically, most of that material went to China for processing and manufacturing into new products. However, China’s recent strict contamination limits and import bans have led to the stockpiling of recyclable materials at California solid waste and recycling facilities due to the declining global market value for some recyclables. However, recyclables collected in Davis are still able to make it to recycling processors. While securing markets for recyclables has become more difficult for the industry as a whole, this difficulty has mostly been due to contamination in recyclable materials.

In Davis specifically, our dual stream collection system and community culture results in cleaner material that is more recyclable than other communities. As a result, the Recology corporate sales team has recovered recycling markets that were lost when China exited the market. The dual-stream recycling system in Davis collects paper separately from plastic, glass and metals. By keeping the paper separate, it stays clean and doesn’t get sticky from bits of soda, detergents and other liquids that are left in the bottles and cans that are recycled. This allows the paper from Davis to be more marketable than paper collected from mixed recycling systems in other communities.

In addition, recyclables that are collected in Davis are remarkably clean to start with.  Whenever recyclables are collected, there are always some “residual items,” such as plastic bags, Styrofoam, and other non-recyclable materials that end up in the recycling bin. In some communities, these residual materials can be as high as 13-20% of what is collected, in Davis only 5-7% residual material is found mixed in with recyclables. Most of what is placed in the bins in Davis is properly sorted.

Davis also differs in the way recyclables are sorted. After recycling carts are emptied into a truck, they are delivered to a Material Recovery Facility (MRF) to be sorted by material type. Recology Davis operates a recycling MRF here in Davis. While most MRFs use a combination of hand-sorting and mechanical equipment that can include air blowers, sieves, magnets, and optical sorting machinery, the Recology MRF in Davis uses only magnets and a line of workers that hand-sort recyclables into separate bunkers. 

The low rate of residual material mixed in with recycling, Davis’ dual-stream recycling system, and method of sorting recyclables results in pristine bales of recyclables at the Recology Davis MRF. There are no plastic bags or other contaminates in these bales—they are purely the single commodity—paper, cardboard, plastic #1, plastic #2, aluminum, etc.

Recology Davis has not changed their practices or modified the materials they will or will not accept for recycling. The only modification to the current recycling practice is that Recology Davis is now asking customers to rinse their containers before recycling them. That way, there won’t be any problems with bits of food or sticky stuff on recyclables rotting if the baled materials have to sit in the warehouse a little longer before they can ship out.

In December 2019, Recology reported that plastic #1 typically stayed in the United States, while plastic #2 and the mixed rigid plastic recyclables (#3-#7 plastics) go to South East Asia to be recycled.

In response to concerns voiced in the media about the recycling markets in South East Asia, a Recology sales team representative visited all of the plastic processing facilities used by Recology in June 2019, to verify that the material Recology sent to them was recycled responsibly. The sales team came back with a wealth of information about the recycling process in Indonesia, Malaysia, Hong Kong, and Vietnam and reported that their processors are recycling every possible material they can and are doing so without polluting the communities in which they operate.

In response to the global recycling market challenges, particularly with plastics, Recology has been a proponent of reforming the plastics industry and finding comprehensive solutions to getting single-use plastics out of the landfill. The Davis City Council passed a resolution on September 10, 2019 to support SB 54, The California Circular Economy and Plastic Pollution Reduction Act, that aims to address single-use plastics and the lack of recycling markets.

The best things people in Davis can do is avoid single-use plastics whenever possible, wipe out containers (or give them a quick rinse) before recycling, and keep up the great work with recycling and composting as much of your waste as you can.

Plastic bags, film plastic, or plastic wrap that are clean and dry can be accepted for recycling at some grocery stores. Please be sure to check with the store first, as not all grocery stores offer plastic bag recycling, and those that do may have limits on the types of plastic bags, film and wrap that they accept.   

Plastic bags are difficult to recycle. When bags are collected in the curbside recycling carts along with other recyclables, they can get dirty and sticky. Only a small amount of plastic resin goes into the creation of a plastic bags, so the process of cleaning dirty bags is typically cost prohibitive. This is why drop-off recycling programs tend to work best for plastic bags, rather than collecting them along with other recyclables.

The other problem with plastic bag recycling is that there is not much of a recycling market for them at the present time. For this reason, Recology Davis does not have a drop-off recycling option at their recycling center for plastic bags.  Most grocery stores used to have plastic bag recycling programs, but some of them have stopped recently.

More information on recycling in Davis.

No, unfortunately neither of these products are recyclable in Davis. Both are typically a combination of materials (toothpaste tubes are made from thick plastic, film plastic and aluminum, while razors are made from plastic and metal). In order to recycle product, you need to be able to separate out each of the raw materials that make up the product. Locally, we can only recycle materials that are fairly simple and made from only one type of raw material (paper, cardboard, rigid plastic, aluminum, etc.)

There are some companies that take back their products for recycling, including razors and toothpaste manufacturers. Check the website of the brand you use to see if they have any available mail-back options for recycling. Earth 911 has an article on companies that take back toothbrushes and toothpaste tubes. https://earth911.com/health/recycling-toothbrushes-and-toothpaste-tubes.

In Davis, we can recycle any rigid plastics—any kind of all-plastic items that can hold its shape. That does not include any foam plastic (i.e. Styrofoam) or film plastic (i.e. plastic bags, film and wrap). Plastic clamshells—those clear, nearly-impossible-to-open, plastic packaging that products are often contained in—are recyclable. Please remove all other materials from the plastic clamshell and place it in your recycling bin with other plastics.

Hey, it's organic, right? Well... even though pet poop is an organic derivative, waste from animals that eat meat can contain bacteria and viruses that the composting facilities are not engineered to handle. Dog and cat poop cannot be placed in the brown-lidded organics cart (or the on-street yard material piles) even if it's in a compostable bag. Bottom line? Dog and cat poop should always be placed in your trash cart. And please do not flush dog or cat poop down the toilet as the dirt, litter and other material mixed with it can cause messy and expensive sewer back-ups. Remember- the toilet is not a trash can!

For those of us with pets that have non-meat diets, it's a little different. Certain pet wastes are ok to place in your organics cart (but not in the yard material piles) like waste from pet rabbits, chickens, rats, mice, gerbils, guinea pigs, hamsters, reptiles or birds. Their poop, paper cage liners, and bedding materials/shavings can go into the organics cart as long as they do not contain plastics, rocks, dirt, or clay (i.e. plastic litter box liners, clay-based bedding materials, etc.).

More information on organics collection.

Little plastic labels on fruits and vegetables might seem harmless, but they may cause some big problems at composting facilities and wastewater treatment plants. When these labels are stuck to food scraps in your compost cart, they do not degrade at compost facilities like the rest of the material. The stickers ball up and pass through the facility sifters, ending up in finished compost that is then spread over the ground, depositing plastic litter on agricultural fields, parks, and wherever else compost is used.

Fruit labels washed down the sink or garbage disposal, such as when you are cleaning fruit, can build up to clog sewer pipes. Wastewater treatment facilities are also not equipped to deal with these little pieces of plastic; they clog filter screens and end up in our waterways.

Please help us prevent pollution and litter by removing plastic labels from your fruits and vegetables before washing and peeling them. These labels should be placed directly in the trash. More pretreatment tips.

More information on organics collection.

Carefully choosing what we purchase can make a huge difference in the amount and types of waste we produce. Plastic is a common material used in packaging products, but if you look carefully you can find non-plastic alternatives, such as paper, cardboard, glass or metal. While many of us have gotten out of the habit of bringing our own bags with us when we shop, it’s time to get back into the habit again! Try using washable cloth bags for produce instead of the plastic produce bags that stores provide. 

While your garbage disposal may be able to handle food scraps, sewer pipes are not made to handle them. Sewage systems are designed to handle mostly liquids with only small amounts of solids. With people getting so good at water conservation in their homes (way to go Davis!) there is often less water going down the drains. Lower volumes of water from conservation and increased solids from garbage disposals can lead to clogged sewer pipes, both in your home, and in the City’s sewer system. Besides—there’s a better option available! Instead of sending your food scraps to the Wastewater Treatment Plant, you can place them all in your organics cart so they can be turned into nutrient-rich compost for local farmers. More information on non-flushable items. More information on organics collection.

While both products can break down and decompose, there are pluses and minuses to both products.

As far as paper goes, recycled-content paper products, especially those that are made from post-consumer recycled content paper, are a better choice than paper products made from new materials. If you can find chlorine and/or bleach-free paper, that’s even better. Bamboo is a sustainable alternative source of fiber as it regrows very quickly, but it’s primarily sourced from overseas.

Another thing to consider when choosing between paper and bamboo is where the products are made, where the materials for the products came from, the carbon footprint of transporting the materials from that location, and the environmental policies in those areas.

Reusable products are a better choice than single-use. When possible, instead of using paper towels, choose reusable cloths, napkins, and rags instead.

If you’re concerned that what you put in the bin doesn’t actually get recycled, as listed above, rest assured that recyclables from Davis are not landfilled and Recology does not ship low-grade plastics overseas. Sorting out recyclable and compostable waste does make a difference and is an easy way for everyone to combat climate change.

Sorting out your waste properly is one of the simplest ways you can help slow climate change. Landfills are the third largest source of methane emissions in California. When buried in landfills, organic waste (including paper, cardboard, food scraps, food-soiled paper products, yard trimmings, and other organic-based wastes) emit 20% of the state’s methane (a climate super pollutant 84 times more potent than carbon dioxide) and air pollutants like PM 2.5 (which contributes to health conditions like asthma). Organic wastes make up half of what Californians send to landfills. Items placed in the trash are sent directly to the landfill and are not sorted out—that’s why it’s so important to sort waste into the correct bin. Reducing the amount of organic waste in landfills has a direct impact on the climate crisis and can create healthier air for all of us to breathe. 

The best option for these products is to offer them to someone you know for reuse, since traditional thrift stores and reuse centers will usually not accept opened personal care products. If that’s not an option, please see the disposal options below.

Shampoo and conditioner: Small amounts are ok to pour down the drain, but pouring an entire bottle down the drain may cause problems with your sewer lines. The Yolo County landfill is a solid waste landfill so liquids cannot go in the trash. You can bring larger amounts of shampoo and conditioner to the landfill hazardous waste facility.

Hair spray: Non-empty aerosol containers of any product need to go the landfill hazardous waste facility, but even plastic pump bottles of hairspray should go to the landfill hazardous waste facility since the materials inside usually contain alcohol and other flammable chemicals.

Perfume: Perfumes should go to the landfill hazardous waste facility since they contain alcohol and other flammable chemicals

Soap: Used bars of soap can go in the trash, while liquid soaps and all anti-bacterial soaps can go to the landfill hazardous waste facility.

Creams, lotions, and pastes, gels, and liquid cosmetics: these can also go to the landfill hazardous waste facility.

Small pieces of paper (and shredded paper) can be hard to sort out at the recycling facility. This is not typically a problem in Davis, since we collect paper separately from other recyclables, but it definitely is a problem in any community where recyclables are mixed together into one bin. In Davis, shredded paper can be recycled, but it can also be composted! To reduce the chance of it being blown around by the wind when your cart is emptied, place shredded paper in a paper bag and then place the paper bag in either your recycling or organics cart.

There are a lot of factors to consider when looking for the best tree for your holidays. Here's a look at the factors to consider when choosing your tree.

Live trees help clean the air, you can plant it in your yard when it gets too large, or donate it to be planted elsewhere. They can be heavy to move around though, and not all trees grow well in our area.

Cut trees are easier to care for than live ones, still give off the scent of a live tree, and can be composted in your organics cart or yard material pile after the holidays. Depending on where and how they are harvested however, there are carbon emissions associated with growing and shipping them.

Artificial trees can be reused for many years, are often economical, and can save time in set up and take down. However, they are not recyclable, so if you choose an artificial tree, be sure that it can last a long time.

Whichever tree you choose, please keep in mind that flocking your tree can contribute to litter when the flocking falls off during transport or disposal. Cut trees that are flocked cannot be composted and are not accepted in yard piles or in organics carts; they have to go in the trash.